Town have confirmed the signing of Stephen Gleeson from Birmingham City on a free transfer. TWTD was first to reveal that Gleeson was set to join the Blues last night.

As reported earlier this morning, Gleeson’s Birmingham contract was up at the end of the season and is understood to have been settled, allowing him to move to the Blues on a permanent basis, signing a short-term deal until the summer.

Gleeson signing on a permanent rather than loan basis means Town could recruit another loanee before the transfer window shuts without having more than the five allowed in a matchday 18.

The 29-year-old, who will wear the number 25 shirt at Portman Road, is well-known to Blues manager Mick McCarthy having been at Wolves during his time as boss at Molineux.

“As soon as I knew Ipswich were interested in me, I couldn’t wait to get down here," he told iFollow Ipswich.

“I wanted to stay in the Championship and when the chance came up to come to such a fantastic club as this one, it’s no-brainer.

“I know the manager and Terry Connor well from our time together at Wolves. The manager gave me my first professional contract and gave me my debut there so I’m looking forward to working with them again.

“There’s a good group of players here. I’ve seen that and the club is only four points off the play-offs. It’s a brilliant opportunity for me and I’m looking to help the team push on in any way I can.

“I’m here until the end of the season and I’ve not thought about beyond that.

"If I can contribute here and the club are happy with what I’ve done then we can sit down and talk at the end of the six months but for now all I’m concerned about is enjoying my football again and helping the team progress.”

Dubliner Gleeson played youth football with Cherry Orchard before joining Wolves in 2006.

Loan spells at Stockport (three times), Hereford and the MK Dons followed before he joined the Buckinghamshire side on a permanent basis in July 2009 having made only one League Cup start and three league sub appearances for Wolves.

After five years with MK, the 5ft 9in tall midfielder moved on to Birmingham in 2014.

Having been a key man under former boss Gary Rowett, Gleeson has made only seven appearances for Birmingham (five in the Championship) this season with his most recent first-team game in early December.

He has won four Republic of Ireland full caps, scoring once, in addition to appearances at U17, U18, U19 and U21 levels.

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Not that it makes much difference, but I am pleased this is a permanent signing rather than a loan. Let's hope Geeson works really hard to prove himself earn a new contract here. The signing makes sense given our horrendous level of injuries in midfield, just so long as he doesn't stand in the way of Downes and Nydam when they are fit as we need to continue their development.

To be fair, it's a sensible signing in many ways. He was certainly good enough at one point; just how good he is now remains to be seen. But even if he turns out to be a Dougie or a Giles Coke, he is only being signed as cover during a ridiculous period of injuries to midfielders and it's a short term contract, no minimal risk/waste. We just need to get through the next 3/4 weeks really, by which time we should have Adeyemi, Nydam and/or Downes back. The way the team is set up, we have 4 forwards, so we are really just looking to strenghten our options for the 2 spots in the middle behind that potent attacking force. Connolly has been great, Hyam is back and can do a job, Skuse isn't a longterm injury concern, McDonnell has done well for Aldershot and Bru has filled in when called upon. Gleeson adds more cover. He has been a decent footballer and at his age he must reaslise that he really need to kickstart his career again if he is going to get the one more decent contract footballers turning 30 tend to seek. If he doesn't, we'll say goodbye in a few months and he'll be playing in League 1 or 2 next season while Huw, Bishop and Dozzell will be fit & chomping at the bit. Plenty of motivation for him.

A key Man under a much feted young manager when Birmingham were doing well sounds more positive than the rubbish posted on here last night by people who probably have never recalled or seen him play above once or twice.

Shows how our expectations have been lowered. At 4 points off the okay offs and with money in the kitty we get someone who cannot get into the Birmingham side. May we’ll be ok but not the midfield creativity and energy we need. And yet most on here think it’s goood business. Evans will be having a laugh.

Huws out for the season Dozzell out for the season Bishop out for the seson

Ward injured

Adeyemi still injured.

Nydam I belive aloso injured

Bru is our only fit "creative" CMF.

Skuse Hyam (expect injury and day) Downes are enforcers.

Fact is whilst hardly inspiring Gleeson offers short term cover for what is a decimated but decent MF. Are we going to shell out a fee and long term wages for someone to Benchwarm next season? Of course not.

This is a stop gap anx nothing more so whilst not inspirational there is clear thinking here.

We need the bodies and Rowett ( who has Derby 2nd and whom i was slated for suggesting as an alt to Mick) hit the best out of him so can we

The fact MM knows him as a player and the type of character he is means that he is likely to be one that works hard and puts in the effort or he will remain on the bench / side lines. Good sense if he is signed as many have pointed out already means he needs to prove himself if he wants to earn a contract. In addition to this it means if a further loan is being searched for, the option remains available.

Judging by Birmingham fans on Twitter i would say about 70 percent seem dissapointed for him to go. A few saying he was the only CM they had left who could find a pass! I really like that it isn't a loan deal too.